Frozen banana import concerns growers

Reports of banana imports have concerned Australian growers.(File photo)

ABC TV

The banana industry has raised concern about reports 11 tonnes of frozen bananas have been imported into Australia from Vietnam.

The Australian Banana Growers Council will seek urgent talks with the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service on Monday after learning eleven tonnes of frozen, cooked and peeled bananas have arrived in Sydney.

Tropical cyclone Larry wiped out banana crops in north Queensland in March this year.

In the wake of the cyclone the Prime Minister, John Howard, promised north Queensland growers no imports would be allowed until the local industry recovered.

The president of the Australian Banana Growers Council, Patrick Leahy, says the latest decision has come as a shock, as the import permit runs for two years.

"Our biggest concern is that they were allowed into the country without a risk assessment process taking place, one that we had anything to do with anyway because we weren't consulted in any way, so how did the risk assessment take place and secondly any diseases that may be associated to these bananas," he said.

Council director Vicki Kippin-O'Connor, says she is surprised the Government did not tell the industry about the change of heart.

"But I can understand this happening, the catering trade use a lot of bananas and they haven't been able to afford the prices of bananas," she said.

"But our imports committee will be looking very closely at this just to ensure there is absolutely no chance of transferring disease into Australia."